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Two people have been winched to safety but a further three are still missing after a trawler began transmitting emergency signals in the North Sea, about 100 miles east of the Farne Islands.

The vessel, called Ocean Way, began using its emergency beacon earlier today (2nd November). Since then, Humber Coastguard has been trying to contact the skipper. It has also been broadcasting mayday relay messages, asking other ships to look out for the missing crew.

An RAF rescue helicopter has found two people alive in the water. They have been airlifted to hospital in Northumberland. The Norwegian helicopter Rescue 1 will arrive on scene shortly to relieve the RAF rescue helicopter.

We will continue searching as long as necessary. We still have the benefit of daylight and fairly favourable weather conditions for searching.

According to the National Trust, Atlantic puffins are particularly threatened on the Farne Islands. Flooding of their burrows during the summer meant that one of the islands failed to produce any chicks.

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The operators of a ship which crashed onto the Farne Islands have been fined £60,000, after a court heard how the chief officer had fallen asleep on watch and there was no look-out man on the deck either.

The MV Danio was grounded for several days on the island in March last year.

Judge Brian Forster agreed it was fortunate a major environmental and maritime disaster hasn't resulted from the failures.

The owners of a ship, which ran aground on the Farne Islands in 2013 are due to be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court. MV Danio was on its way from Scotland to Belgium when it snagged on rocks after a crew member fell asleep and a warning system was switched off.

MV Danio ran aground on the Farne Islands, an important centre for wildlife Credit: ITV